WEBVTT A MASSIVE FIRE GUTTEDPORTSMOUTH'S ICONIC STATE STREETrtSALOON RESTAURANT IN APRIL, ASWELL AS APARTMENTS ABOVE IT.TWO OF THREE BUILDINGS THATTOGETHER MADE UP THE CORNERPROPERTY AND HAD THE SAME OWNER,LEVELED.rtFOUR MONTHS LATER, THE BRICKBUILDING AT 278 STATE STREET ISSTILL STANDING.THE 4-STORY STRUCTURE WAS BUILrtIN 1850.THE OWNER IS ASKING PERMISSIONTO DEMOLISH IT, AN ISSUE THATSTIRS UP DEBATE IN THIS HISTORICCITYrt>> YOU REALLY DO LOSE A LOT OFTHE LEGACY OF THE COMMUNITY WHENYOU DO THAT.>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THEBUILDING COMING DOWN.JENNIFER: WHILE THE RESTAURANTLOOKS FOR A NEW HOME, ANDrtAPARTMENT DWELLERS HAVE MOVEDON, WHAT HAPPENS ON THEDESIRABLE DOWNTOWN PROPERTY MUSTGO THRU THE CITY'S HISTORICDISTRICT COMMISSION.ATTORNEY JOHN BOSEN MAKING THErtCASE AT AN H.D.C.MEETING LAST MONTH THAT THEBRICK BUILDING SHOULD COME DOWN.>> THE TAKE AWAY IS THAT THEREMAINING STRUCTURE IS SO BADLYDAMAGED rtTHAT I WILL NOT BEREPAIRED.WE DO NOT TAKE THIS CONCLUSIONLIGHTLY.NOBODY IS MORE DEVASTATED ANDDISTRAUGHTrt.PETER'S FAMILY HAS OWNED THEBUILDING SINCE 1938.JENNIFER: GETTING PERMISSION MAYBE A TOUGH SELL.rt>> THE PROPERTY OWN SUBMITTEDENGINEERING REPORTS SUGGESTINGIT IS IMPRACTICAL TO MAINTAINTHE BUILDING.rtTHE CITY HAS RETAINED ANENGINEERING REPORT THAT SUGGESTSTHE OPPOSITE.JENNIFER:rt EVERYBODY HAS IDEASABOUT WHAT COULD GO ON THISPROPERTY, BUT NOTHING IS GOINGTO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON.WHATEVER THE HDCrt DECIDTONIGHT, THE LEVEL OF MUNICIPAL